School for Scoundrels (1960)

A young man finds a very special school. It teaches him how to take advantage of people. He begins to put the lessons into operation.

Directors:

Robert Hamer, Hal E. Chester (uncredited)

Writers:

Stephen Potter (novels), Patricia Moyes (screenplay)

Stars:

Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, Alastair Sim

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Carmichael	...	Henry Palfrey
Terry-Thomas	...	Raymond Delauney
Alastair Sim	...	Mr. S. Potter
Janette Scott	...	April Smith
Dennis Price	...	Dunstan
Peter Jones	...	Dudley
Edward Chapman	...	Gloatbridge
John Le Mesurier	...	Head Waiter
Irene Handl	...	Mrs. Stringer
Kynaston Reeves	...	General
Hattie Jacques	...	1st Instructress
Hugh Paddick	...	Instructor
Barbara Roscoe	...	2nd Instructress
Gerald Campion	...	Proudfoot
Monte Landis	...	Fleetsnod (as Monty Landis)

Storyline

Based on the Stephen Potter "One Upmanship" and "Lifemanship" books, Henry Palfrey tries hard to impress but always loses out to the rotter Delauney. Then he discovers the Lifeman college run by "Professor" Potter and discovers the secrets of success. But has he the courage to put all his lessons into effect?

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Plot Keywords:

london england | romantic rivalry | lifemanship | clothesmanship | partymanship | 

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Taglines:

Or how to win without actually cheating

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Much of it was shot by Cyril Frankel, as original director Robert Hamer, who was an alcoholic, kept showing up for work drunk.

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Goofs

Ian Carmichael buys the car on the 21st May, postdating the scene in his office when the staff are listening in to a cricket test match, though the test match season did not start before early June.

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Quotes

Mr. S. Potter: It doesn't matter. The flow has been interrupted.

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Connections

Remade as School for Scoundrels (2006)

User Reviews

Terry-Thomas at his caddish best!

I first saw this film about ten years ago and in that time I must have seen it two hundred times.It stands for everything great in British comedy.It tells the story of a young man who always seems to come a cropper in the lifeman stakes.He joins classes for one-upmanship and turns into an arrogant idiot.

Alastair Sim is at his lugrubious best.Terry-Thomas plays the bounder to a tee with some wonderful lines.If I have one gripe it's the casting of Ian Carmichael in the lead role.Leslie Philips would have been much better But that's a personal choice.

Now I'm off to watch it again for the two hundred and first time!

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 1960 (UK)

Also Known As:

School for Scoundrels or How to Win Without Actually Cheating

Filming Locations:

Lambeth, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), Guardsman Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1